CHAPTER 6

A/N: Hello friends! So sorry for late update. Today first, let me tell you guys something about myself. I didn't give you'll my perfect intro. My name is Rima. I am a second year engineering student and have just turned 18 a few months ago.

Now I want to thank Rhia, Anam Abhi's fan, KSarah, Eman, KK, Aditi, Ambika, fancy pari, Shweta04, Asd and Guest for reviewing my first-ever FF story. While writing it ,if I have hurt anyone's feelings, I am extremely sorry for that, seriously guys, kaan pakadke sorry. I surely didn't do it intentionally.

I didn't get many reviews for my previous chapter. But no worries. Yeh chapter itna dhamakedaar likhungi ke aaplogon ko review toh karna hi padega. Jyada bol diya hoga toh phir ek baar kaan pakadke sorry (with puppy face). Waise ek change hai. Ho sakta hai flashback thoda next chapter me continue hoga.

Chapter me shayad aapko thodasa exaggeration lage to please, please, please maarna mat, hehehe. Maine writing liberty lekar likha hai.

Waise aaj badbad kuch jyada ho gayi hai. Enough of it, now.

Here's the update. Enjoy reading guys.

Recap: Tanishka remembers her past and cries out her heart keeping her head on Rajat's chest.

Abhijeet was sitting on his desk and updating the files. He finished doing it and was going to close the laptop when the family photos folder caught his attention. He opened it and saw the first photo of his CID family. The photos started scrolling as he set it at the slide show mode. The photos of his each CID family member, then the photos of his marriage and then came the photo of him and Tarika holding their Tanu who was just a few months old that time. He paused it and started caressing it.

O RI CHIRAIYA….

NANHI SI CHIDIYA….

ANGANAA ME PHIR AAJA RE….

He remembered how much he used to play with her, spend time with her, before Minakshi.

O RI CHIRAIYA….

NANHI SI CHIDIYA….

ANGANAA ME PHIR AAJA RE….

And then he remembered how it all changed after Minakshi was born. How much he changed himself. Though it was Minakshi's good, he didn't realize that it was affecting Tanu. And when he realized it, it was too late.

ANDHIYARA… HAI GHANAA….

AUR LAHU….. SE SANAA….

KIRNO KE TINKE…

AMBER SE CHUNKE….

ANGANAA ME PHIR AAJA RE….

He remembered the day when his small, little world containing his only family, suddenly collapsed and that too, so horribly that he still wasn't able to raise it again. He had never even imagined that such a thing might take place. But it took place against all odds and left him shattered completely.

Flashback:

It was a usual day at the bureau. All were updating the report for the three cases that had been reported the day before. But no one had the slightest idea that the usual looking day was soon going to turn into their worst nightmare ever.

Abhijeet's phone started ringing. As Abhijeet was discussing something with ACP sir, he asked Daya to pick up the phone. Daya received the call but what he heard from the other side made him freeze and the phone slipped from his hand. Everyone looked up at him to know what had happened. Abhijeet and ACP worriedly went towards him.

Abhijeet: (shaking him) "Daya…. (bit loudly) Daya….. (Daya looked at him with teary eyes) Kya hua, yaar? Tu…. Tu…. aise…. (getting more worried) Kya hua hai, yaar batana please. Dekh tujhe is tarah dekhke mujhe bohot dar lag raha hai. Tu – "

ACP: "Abhijeet… tum pehle khud ko shant karlo. (softly) Daya, kya hua hai? Kiska phone tha? Kya kaha unhone?"

Daya: (in broken and hollow voice) "Sir, Tanu… Tanu ke school se….Inspector Rajvir ka… ph….phone tha. Unka…. Unka kehna hai ki …. hu…humari Ta… Tanu ne…. us Ajay ko…. ma…. maarne ki koshish ki hai. (sobbingly) Un dono ko city hospital le jaya gaya hai. Hume bulaaya hai waha pe."

The entire bureau was stunned. No one was ready to accept whatever Daya had said. Abhijeet was just blankly starring at Daya. After few moments –

Abhijeet: (in hoarse voice) "Tu…. tu mazaak…. mazaak…. kar raha hai, na? Tanu… Tanu ne kaha hai na… tumse yeh kehne ko. Hai na, hai na Daya?"

Daya: (hiding his face in his palms) "Kaash Abhi, kaash yeh mazaak hota, kaash…"

Abhijeet: (in low tone) "Nahi…."

He collapsed in the nearby chair. ACP could easily see that both his sons were feeling helpless and dumbfounded, but they couldn't sit like that. They had to go to the hospital to know what had happened.

ACP: (composing himself) "Daya, Abhijeet chalo utho ab. U haath par haath dhare baithe rehne se kuch nahi honewala. Chalo utho. Aankhen pochho and hospital chalo. (in ordering tone) Sachin, tum, Kajal, Nikhil, Purvi aur Pankaj humare aane tak bureau sambhaaloge. Hum tumlogon ko inform karte rahenge. Pehle pata toh chale ki aakhir baat kya hai."

ACP, Freddy and Shreya somehow managed to buck up Daya and Abhijeet. ACP called Dr. Salunkhe and briefed him everything and told him to meet in the parking lot. Dr. Salunkhe and Tarika met them near the car. Tarika was looking completely broken and her eyes were already red from crying. Seeing Daya's condition, ACP ordered Freddy to take the steering. Soon they reached the city hospital, but what the hell? The media was already waiting there to welcome them with their never-ending shower of questions. They somehow got out of the car and started making their way towards the hospital while the reporters were constantly questioning them.

Reporter 1: "ACP sir, please hume bataayiye ki yeh sab kaise hua? Aap sabse honhaar officer ki beti ne aisa kaise kar diya? Sir.. sir…. please hamare sawaalon ka jawaab dijiye…"

Reporter 2: "Abhijeet sir, aap bataayiye aapki beti ne aisa kyu kiya? Kya aapki beti maansik taur par beemar hai?"

At this question, the reporter earned the most deadliest glare of Abhijeet. If it hadn't been his desire to see his baby, he would have strangled that reporter to death. But he controlled himself and went with the others.

Reporter 1: "Dekha aaplogon, ke kis tarah bina koi jawaab diye CID Mumbai ke ACP aur SI chale gaye. Kya lagta aaplogon ko ke Tanishka Abhijeet Srivastava maansik taur par beemaar hai isliye usne yeh khoon kiya yaa koi aur wajah thi?"

The CID team had reached inside the hospital where they were greeted by Inspector Rajvir and a lady constable who was holding Tanishka's hand. Abhijeet looked at her but she was just starring at the floor. Tarika rushed forward to hug her daughter but the constable and Inspector stopped her.

Inspector: "I am sorry, ma'am. Hume strict orders hai ki jab tak Tanishka ki psychiatric test nahi ho jaati, hum use kisise na milne de. Aap jaante hai sir ki Tanishka 8 saal ki hai isliye uspar case toh nahi chalaya jayega, lekin agar psychiatric test se yeh baat prove hoti hai ki usne joh kiya hai uske nature aur consequences se woh puri tarah se wakif hai aur ek certain maturity level attain kar chuki hi toh IPC section 83 ke tehet hume use Child Care Centre bhejna hoga."

ACP: "Inspector Rajvir, please aap hume kanoon sikhana band kijiye. Kya aap hume yeh bataane ka kasht karenge ki actual me hua kya tha?"

Inspector: "Sure, sir. Sir waise toh is case me koi eye witness toh nahi, par school ke baccho aur Tanishka ki class teacher ne jo bataaya us hisaab se break time me Tanishka aur Ajay ka jhagda ho gaya tha. Break khatam hone baad bhi woh log jhagad hi rahe the. Tanishka ke classmates bhaagte hue staff room me gaye aur unki class teacher ko bataaya. Aur jab woh bahar aayi toh unhone dekha ki Ajay jameen par pada tha, uske sir se khoon beh raha tha aur khoon se sana patthar Tanishka ke haath me tha."

Everyone was just starring at that innocent soul. Could she really do this?

ACP: (composing his teary tone as much as possible) "Tanishka ne kya statement diya hai? Aur woh bacha Ajay kaisa hai?"

Inspector: "Sir usne abhi tak koi statement nahi diya hai. Aur Ajay… woh ab coma me jaa chuka hai. Sorry sir, par ab hume nikalna hoga. Shaam tak hum aapko test ke results bata denge. Par tab tak Tanishka humara saath hi rahegi."

Saying this, he left followed by the lady constable and Tanishka. Seeing them going, Tarika hugged Abhijeet and broke out in a loud cry. Abhijeet put his hand on her shoulder but he himself was in need of support right now. He was blaming himself. He felt as though Tanishka had vented out his anger on Ajay. Tears were constantly rolling down from his eyes. The team somehow went to check on the boy, Ajay. But they knew that they won't be getting anything except curses from those parents. As soon as they reached there, Ajay's mother(AM) cryingly held Abhijeet and Tarika by their arms and dragged them towards the ICU.

AM: (showing them her son and shouting) "Dekho… dekho kya haalat kar di hai aapki beti ne mere phool se bacche ki. Are, agar us paagal bacchi (The hearts of all CID members pinched at that word) ko sambhaala nahi jaata, toh rakha kyu hai use apne ghar? Bhej kyu nahi dete use kise paagal khaane me? Haan , bolo… bolo na… chup kyu khade ho aap dono…."

And she sat down on the bench with her head in her hands. Now the boy's father walked towards Abhijeet.

AF: (in chewing tone) "Woh bacchi hai isliye bach gayi par ek baat yaad rakhna. Na maine tum dono baap-beti ko barbad kiya na toh naam nahi lagaunga DEEPAK SINGHANIA."

And he turned his face. The CID members had already expected this but they had to face it. They left from there immediately. ACP while returning tried to get the investigation in his hands, but Deepak Singhania had used his powers and had blocked each and every path for them. This left the CID team with no other option but to wait till the evening for the psychiatric report. The time seemed to be passing very slowly. Abhijeet and Tarika were sitting together holding each other's hands tightly, worried about their daughter's fate. Tarika was continuously sobbing. Slowly and steadily the evening arrived and everyone became impatient. Finally at around dusk, Inspector Rajvir entered with Tanishka. His expressions were grim and Tanishka was still just busy inspecting the floor design.

Inspector: "I… I am sorry sir. (Abhijeet's heart skipped a beat. What he was hearing was true?) Test se yeh baat saabit ho chuki hai ki Tanishka ko us hadse ke nature aur consequences ka pura ilm tha and she has attained enough maturity for it. So hume use majburan Child Care and Rehabilitation Centre le jaana hoga. Chuki woh baccha bach gaya hai toh Tanishka ko sirf do saal ke liye waha rakha jayega. Phir agar woh thik huyi toh use aapke paas bhej diya jayega. Aap chahe toh usse do minute baat kar sakte hai."

Saying this, he left to wait outside. ACP sir was starring at Tanishka to find something, even a small clue to know why she had done that. But the odds didn't seem to be in his favour. As soon as the inspector left, Tarika rushed to secure her baby in her arms but to everyone's surprise, Tanishka took a step back. Tarika was stunned. Why was her daughter doing all this? Tarika looked at Abhijeet and an understanding passed between them. Abhijeet walked towards Tanishka. She tried to take a step back again, but he grabbed her softly by his hands. He gently held her chin, raised her head and looked into her eyes. A chill ran down his spine. They were so blank, so expressionless. The way he kept them when he wanted to hid something from his family. A thought crept in his mind. Was it something related to them that she was doing it? Had someone threatened her to do so? Any of his enemy or someone? But there was just one way to find that out and that was to make Tanishka tell him about it. And that was nearly impossible. After all she was HIS daughter. Still he thought to try every way.

Abhijeet: (in soft and gentle voice) "Tanu….. (Tanishka blinked once to force back the lump forming in her throat. How much she had yearned for that one call in these years) Kya baat hai, beta?... Kya hua tha waha?... Kisine…. kisine tumse kaha… yeh sab karne ke liye? (Tanishka shook her head in no) Bataao bacche…. Papa samajhte hai…. Papa bilkul gussa nahi karenge…. Bataao na, Rani? Kahi koi tumhe dhamki toh nahi de raha yeh sab karne ke liye?"

Tanishka again shook her head in no. Abhijeet sighed. She was so stubborn. He had tried softly. Now there was only one thing he could do. Though he knew that the chances of that trick working were less, but he still thought to give it a try. He simply jerked her back. Everyone realized that now he was angry. So to save Tanishka from his anger –

Sachin: "Tanu bacche, Papa ko bata do baat kya hai. Dekho woh keh rahe hai na ki woh tumhe nahi daantenge. Toh baata do unhe."

Purvi: "Haa, Tanishka. Baata do unhe beta. Dekho, tum is baat ki fikar kar rahi ho ke tumhare batane se kisiko kuch ho jayega toh don't worry about it. Hum sab handle kar lenge."

Nikhil: "Haa, aur tum bata dogi toh koi problem hi nahi rahegi. Hum hai, tumhare papa hai, Daya chachu hai. Hum sab dekhlenge. Aisa sab humne bohot dekha hai."

"Basss!" Abhijeet's voice boomed. Everyone shivered at that. Even Tanishka was startled. She again started examining the floor, rubbing her hands.

Abhijeet: "Sab itna samjha rahe hai, keh rahe hai Tanishka bol do, bol do par nahi. Yeh hai ki ise kuch sunna hi nahi hai. Bhala ise kya farak padta hai? Duniya taane toh humari parvarish ko degi na. Hume kosegi ki humne sahi sanskaar nahi diye use. Ise kya hai? Mazaa aa raha hai ise toh, apne maa-baap ki beizzati hote dekhkar."

ACP: " Abhijeet, yeh kya bole jaa rahe ho tum? Bacchi hai woh."

Abhijeet: "Bacchi hai, bacchi hai bol bol kar toh aaplogon ne ise sir par chadha rakha hai. Sach Tanishka… Aaj tumne duniya ke samne mera sir jhuka diya…. Sach me…. (in hurt tone) Kya socha tha maine….. Kya sapne sajaaye the tumhe lekar….. Sab…. sab mitti me mila diya tumne…. Are ab toh lagta hai ki…. TUM JAISE BETI HONE SE TOH ACCHA HAI KI MERI KOI BETI HI NA HOTI….. (Everyone was starring at him with wide eyes. Even Tanishka. Tears were now making their way down her cheeks.) AULAD KE NAAM PE KALANK HO TUM, TANU, KALANK HO TUM….. MAI KABHI JINDAGI ME TUMHARI SHAKAL NAHI DEKHUNGA, KABHI NAHI…."

And he turned his face to hide his tears. He had used his last weapon, but even that had didn't worked. Everyone's heart was pinching seeing that moment. ACP sir was still starring at her, but except hurt at her father's words, he couldn't find anything in her eyes. Inspector Rajvir entered inside. Tarika grabbed her daughter and started crying more harshly. But Tanishka herself separated from her mother. She avoided making an eye contact, as she knew it would more painful for her mother. The entire team wanted to stop her from going but it was not in their hands. Tanishka held inspector Rajvir's hand and looked at her father's back.

Tanishka: "SORRY PAPA, FOR WHATEVER THINGS I DID AND WHATEVER THINGS I DIDN'T."

Saying this, she left with the inspector without a backward glance. Everyone just kept starring at her till she was out of sight. Tarika collapsed on the floor. "TANUUUUU…"

It had been a month since that incident. Everything pretended to have come back to normal. But how could it be? Abhijeet and Tarika always looked lost but in Minu's presence, they tried utmostly to stay normal. Once she had asked about Tanishka, but her parents had made some excuse and diverted her mind. Then she had never asked about her. Both Tanishka and Minakshi were not much close. Minakshi always spent her time with her parents whereas Tanishka was always with her chachu-chachi. So they never contacted much.

It was just another day at the bureau. ACP entered to find everyone busy with their work. He looked at Abhijeet. He, as usual, was trying to make himself busy with the files and work. ACP sir just shook his head and entered his cabin. Even after a month, he was still not able to accept that fact. He was not ready to accept that Tanu had followed Nakul's path. But the things seemed to be pointing towards that fact. He was pondering over it when the bureau door opened and he saw Tanishka's school principal entering. But there was something in his body language that was sending suspicious alerts in everyone's mind.

Abhijeet: (confused at his arrival) "Sir, aap yaha? Kya baat hai?"

Principal: (avoiding eye contact and trying to find words) "Woh…. woh…. mu…mujhe…aa….aap se….ku….kuch baat kar….karni thi…."

He was just not understanding what to say. And then, he suddenly bursted out crying and grabbed Abhijeet's feet. Abhijeet, though shocked at his gesture, immediately made him stand up. Even ACP sir came out seeing that scene.

Abhijeet: (consoling the Principal) "Sir…. sir…. aap, aap ro kyu rahe hai? Please…. please shant ho jayiye… Please sir. Pankaj, sir ko paani pilao."

Pankaj brought water but the Principal denied.

Principal: (sobbing and joining his hands) "Abhijeet jee, please….. please…. mujhe maaf….. maaf…. kar dijiye. Please…. sir, please…..

Abhijeet: (holding his joined hands and worriedly) " Sir aap yeh…. yeh kya kar rahe hai aap….. aap bade hai mujhse….please aap haath mat jodiye mere saamne…. please…. Aur aap mujhse maafi kyu maang rahe hai?"

Principal: (calming himself down a bit) "Batata hu…. sab batata hu…. Agar aaj maine aapko sach nahi bataya, toh mai kabhi jindagi me khud ko maaf nahi kar paunga. Meri aatma aur zameer dono mujhe dhikaarte rahenge, koste rahenge. Abhijeet jee, mai janta hu us din kya hua tha. (Everyone's eyes were transfixed on him) Mai….. mai wahi tha aur maine sab dekha tha aur …. (he stopped due to lump in his throat) us sab me shaamil bhi tha."

Everyone was confused and shocked. Why was he saying all this now and what did he know about that incident? There were many such questions and only he had those answers. Abhijeet was just starring at him with blank expressions. The Principal started narrating the incident.

Principal: "Sir, us din break time me hi undono ka jhagda shuru ho gaya tha. Bell bajne par mai apni first floor ki office window me aaya yeh dekhne ki sab bacche gaye hai ya nahi. Aur tab maine Tanishka aur Ajay ko jhagadte hue dekh liya. Aur mai turant niche aaya. Ground par tab undono ke alawa aur koi nahi tha. Mai undono ke paas gaya aur unhe bohot daanta par phir bhi dono jhagad rahe the. Aur phir toh unhone mara-mari hi shuru kar di. Mai undono ko alag karne me lag gaya. Lekin….. lekin alag….. karte….. waqt maine….. Ajay ko thoda jor se dhakka…. mara aur woh….. woh gir….. gir gaya. Uska sir patthar se takraya aur kho….khoon behne lag gaya. (again cryingly) Sir, mai…. mai bohot dar gaya tha, sir, bohot dar gaya tha mai. Ajay ke pita waise hi mujhe kuch reasons ki wajah se Principal ki post se nikalna chahte the, aur yeh baat toh unhe woh mauka bhi de deti. Par mujhe us baat ka dar nahi tha."

ACP: (controlling his anger as much as possible) "Toh phir kis baat ka (stressing) dar tha aapko, Principal sahab?"

Principal: (noticing that anger and in low tone) "Sir, darasal is hadse ek mahine pehle…. meri …. meri patni ka dehant ho gaya tha…. Meri beti jo apni maa se bohot jyada close thi woh….. is… is hadse ko bardaash nahi kar paayi aur depression me chali gayi. Uske psychiatric treatment abhi tak chal raha hai. Agar is hadse me mujhe jail bhej diya jaata toh woh mar jaati sir (cryingly)…. woh mar jaati. Woh Deepak Singhania yeh baat kabhi nahi maanta ke yeh ek accident tha. Koi planned murder nahi. Tanishka meri beti ko apni badi behen maanti hai aur use yeh saari baate pata thi. Jab Ajay behosh hua to hume laga ki woh mar gaya hai. Mai toh hosh me hi nahi tha. Tab Tanishka ne mujhe jaise-taise waha se bhej diya aur… aur khoon ka ilzaam apne sir le liya."

Everyone was standing frozen at their place. No one was able to overcome that shock. So that 8 year old had just taken that blame to save a father and his daughter? Yes, only a daughter can understand a father. Even if he is not her father. Everyone allowed that revelation to sink in. The Principal was continuously shedding tears and asking for forgiveness. After all, he couldn't be blamed. It was an accident. Seeing his condition, ACP sir asked Sachin and Nikhil to take him home. As soon as they left, Abhijeet collapsed in the chair. Even ACP sir and Daya didn't have words to console him. They just kept starring at him like others.

HUMNE TUJHPE HAZAARON SITAM HAI KIYE…..

He remembered each and every word he had said to her.

HUMNE TUJHPE JAHAAN BHAR KE JULM KIYE…..

He remembered how he had slapped her in front of everyone. He realized that he could have talked and solved the matter then and there.

HUMNE SOCHA NAHI….

TU JO UD JAYEGI…..

YEH ZAMEEN TERE BIN….

SUNI REH JAYEGI…

KISKE DUM PE SAJEGA MERA ANGANAA…..

Abhijeet collapsed on the floor and started crying loudly with voice. None of the people present there had anything to console him now.

Ufff….. A really, really long update.

But, kya karu…. Ab teen din tak koi update nahi de paungi coz I am a bit busy with things. But till stay tuned to the story.

Please, please, please read and review.

Thank you!